Together Everyone Achieves More
TOP TEN Things YOU NEED TO DO this Season
1. Carry a Good Attitude
Why? Bad attitudes are detrimental to a team and a program over the course of a season. If you want this program to improve, if you want to enjoy basketball this season, it starts and ends with your attitude. And as obvious as it may sound, college coaches will NOT call you if you have an attitude problem, nor will they call you if you get cut from your high school team.
How? Don’t act like a superstar or that it is your “right” to be on the varsity team. Don’t be a knucklehead to ANY adult on campus or off campus. Be respectful and courteous at all times on and off the court. Control your emotions regardless what is taking place during the game.
2. Take care of your schoolwork. You are a student athlete. Student comes first. To become a college student is the goal. The higher your GPA the more options of schools you will be able to choose from. To pass NCAA clearing house, you must have a 2.0
If you are struggling in your classes make sure you talk to me and your teacher right away. It is important to seek extra help from the teacher. They are there to help you and they care and want you to be successful in their classes.
How to be a good student?
First, make it a priority. Show up to class, do the assigned work, and study hard for quizzes and tests. Ask the teacher for extra help if you still can’t make the grade.
3. Compete together and GET TOUGH.
Why? You will NOT always have the opportunity to play basketball, so take advantage of it while you are young and GET TOUGH every time you step on the court. Stop messing around and take the game seriously when it’s time to compete, which should be every time you step on a court. Playing and working on your game TOGETHER will breed pride and toughness in the program as well as help you improve the timing and teamwork of our offense.
Practice hard every day. It is hard to be focused and motivated for basketball every single day. Be the player that wants it the most everyday. Push your teammates to the limit. Push your self to make the team better every practice. The more focused we are in practice, the more prepared we will be for game time situation.
4. Be a good teammate.
Why? Only great TEAMs win. This is not an individual sport. The coaching staff will take extra care this season to insure that we have the best TEAM in the area, not just a collection of the best players at LHS.
How? Follow these keys to be a good teammate:
– Respect and enjoy competing with guys in and around this program.
– Show up and play together and work as hard as possible every day and be happy about it.
– Attend study halls. If you do not have homework, watch film on the opposing team or on our team and learn how we can become better.
– Don’t yell or put down your own teammates who are putting in work in this program.
– Thank your teammates for passes.
– Communicate on the defense so you know who has who’s back – and be there when it’s your turn!
5. Understand and execute man-to-man defensive principles.
Why? If you can’t remember and execute our man-to-man defensive principles, you can’t play at LHS, whether we are in man or zone. And as obvious as it may sound, college coaches will not call you if you are a liability on the defensive end – you have to play defense in college.
How? Defensive Absolutes: memorize, understand and execute these five things:
– Talk with your teammates.
– Off-ball, play the ball and see your man at all time in order to HELP your teammates.
– On-ball, APPLY PRESSURE, be arm distance from your man every where on the floor, and stay between man and basket.
– Contest shots and dribble-drives with hands up or out.
– Box out and rebound the basketball to end a defensive possession.
6. Improve your overall offensive game.
Why? We want players who can score from anywhere, not just behind the 3-point line or just around the basket.
How? When doing individual improvement drills at practice, make sure to go game speed. Get your skills used to being performed at the highest level possible. This way you are prepared for any situation the game can throw at you.
7. Improve your shooting form.
Many of you have bad form. Here are keys to a good shooting form:
Take the Hopla drill seriously.
– Balance: feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointed at the basket.
– Eyes: eyes should stay focused on the target – if you use the backboard, aim for the upper corners. If you are looking to “swish” the shot, aim for the center of the rim. Do NOT follow the flight of the ball with your eyes – stay focused on your target.
– Elbow: your elbow should make an “L” under the ball back to your shoulder. If your elbow is too far to the outside or too tight to the inside, your shot will not be consistent.
– Follow-Through: Your fingers should always snap into the rim like you are sticking your hand in a cookie-jar on top of the refrigerator. If they snap to the side, that is where your ball will go. You should keep your follow-through up until the ball hits the bottom of the net. With this follow-through, your ball should spin back towards you with great rotation, giving your ball a chance to bounce into the net if it happens to hit any rim.
As you might have noticed, these keys spell out “BEEF.” If you use “BEEF” as a guide, you will be a better shooter.
How? Attend a shooting camp this summer or ask a coach to help you with your jump shot. Then practice form first before shooting everytime you enter a gym so that it becomes “second nature” for you to use proper form.
8. Shoot the ball GAME-SPEED as often as you can.
Why? Great shooters – Ray Allen, J.J. Redick, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant know the only way to improve your jump shot is to shoot. And shoot a lot. All the time. But the only way your jump shot is going to improve when it matters most – game time – is if you practice at that same speed – GAME speed.
How? Though best when practiced with a partner, there are many drills you can use do individually as well – but the point is to GO HARD when you shoot, don’t just jog around the court and throw up 3-pointers.